San Bernardino, CA Swimming Pools & Spas: Safety Rules (2026)

Pool safety in San Bernardino is a layered system. On the engineering side, every pool pump system must include anti-entrapment drain covers compliant with ANSI APSP-16 and a second approved safety system such as a vacuum release, suction-limiting vent, or dual-drain configuration under the federal Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act and incorporated into California Building Code. On the barrier side, the five-foot fence, self-closing gate, and one of seven state-approved secondary features from Health and Safety Code 115922 are mandatory. On the operation side, public and semi-public pools at apartments, HOAs, and hotels must post water-quality signage, emergency contact numbers, no-diving rules for shallow pools, and bather load limits enforced by San Bernardino County Environmental Health under Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations. Residential pool owners should keep a Coast Guard-approved life ring and reach pole near the pool, maintain a working phone in sight of the water, and enforce strict non-climbable zones around the barrier. Drain entrapment has caused fatal injuries, so anti-entrapment certification must be renewed whenever a pump is replaced. CPR signage is encouraged for private pools and required for public pools. The Fire Department inspects rescue equipment on any pool serving more than one family unit.